According to District Attorney Johnson Britt, Anthony "T-Bone" Smith, 26, of 1151 Britt Road, pleaded guilty to the shooting death of 46-year-old Robert Graham in exchange for testifying against another man charged in the murder. He was sentenced to 14 to 18 years in prison as part of the plea agreement.
Michael Dunham, of 1151 Britt Road, and Jevon Purdie, of Fayetteville, each has previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Graham's death.
Britt said Smith, Dunham and Purdie, as part of their plea agreements, will testify against Daryl Glover, 23, of Britt Road, St. Pauls. Glover is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Graham and the shooting of another man.
According to statements from the three men, Glover was the "ring leader" who hired Smith, Dunham and Purdie to commit the murder, Britt said.
"I don't want to put words in my client's mouth," said Ken Ransom, Smith's attorney. "He's just agreed to testify truthfully in Daryl Glover's trial."
Smith also pleaded guilty to felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and felony shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Smith admitted killing Graham and shooting another man, Carlos Bruton, on Dec. 27, 2000, as they sat in a car on Quick Road in Lumber Bridge. Bruton, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, has recovered from gunshot wounds to his legs.
Britt said Dunham was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison. Purdie has not yet been sentenced.
Britt said Glover's trial, originally scheduled for this week, would begin in January.
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